Disservice: XLR interconnects

@dz13 agree.. Even with the XLR cables I'd like to use the shortest lengths possible.. The ones that I got are all 1.5m.. The price seem exponential, as you add to the length.. 

Rman9, good on you for using your ears and seeing for yourself.....cables can and do make a difference (to my ears)

Celtic66, for years I also listened to the "cables don't make a difference", then a friend loaned me a set of AntiCables 3.1 speaker cables and some AQ RCA interconnects.....that was a revelation on the value of good cables.

Sgreg1, I don't have a formula as you do, but I also believe in "bang for the buck" in cables. My total system, including cables, is just shy of $16,000. Does a $2,000 cable make sense in my system? No to me they do not. What does make a lot of sense is finding amazing cables at affordable pricing that do make clear audio improvements. There are some great manufacturers in that category: AntiCables, Morrow Audio, WireWorld, Cullen Cables, Oyaide, Supra Cables, DH Labs, Lavri Cables

Dz13, once I realized the improvement that almost every cable can produce, I had to find better Ethernet cables (feeding Node130), USB Cable feeding DDC from Node, and even I2S cable from DDC to Pontus II DAC

If you have true balanced components (as all of my Denafrips products are), definitely use XLR to keep that balanced signal integrity

Rman9, I would try a better power cable as many have mentioned. Even better, add a dedicated 20 AMP line ($200 - $300), a high quality 20 AMP plug ($50 - $100), and a better quality power cable.....that made tremendous gains for me

I prefer XLRs and use them whenever I can (my 2 DACs are XLR out to my Freya preamp with 2 balanced ins...rare for most preamps), and without cables my system would just sit there as a meaningless heap...silent...collecting dust...so yeah, cables are VERY important.

OP,

Yes, USB cables make a difference… and it can be very large. Erase the 0 and 1 theory. It will point you in the wrong direction in audio every time. Everything matters and sometimes it seems the more counterintuitive the bigger the difference.

and if you want an even bigger improvement try interconnects that are made with OCC single crystal wire far superior to anything ofc on the market.